20 1

ISSN 2278- 4136
ZDB-Number: 2668735-5
IC Journal No: 8192
Volume 2 Issue 2
Online Available at www.phytojournal.com
Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

In vitro and in vivo Methods for Anticancer Activity
Evaluation and Some Indian Medicinal Plants Possessing
Anticancer Properties: An Overview
Sumitra Chanda* and Krunal Nagani
1.
2.
Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Microbiological Laboratory,

Department of Biosciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot 360005, Gujarat, India.
[E-mail- svchanda@gmail.com]
Cancer is a major public health burden in both developed and developing countries. Anticancer activity is the effect
of natural and synthetic or biological and chemical agents to reverse, suppress or prevent carcinogenic progression.
Several synthetic agents are used to cure the disease but they have their toxicity and hence the research is going on
to investigate the plant derived chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore an attempt has been made to review different in
vitro and in vivo methods for estimating anticancer properties of natural products from medicinal plants. In this
review, 50 anticancer medicinal plants of Indian origin belonging to 35 families are reported along with detailed
information regarding part used, extract used, type of the model used, types of tested cancer cell lines, etc. These
plants continue to be used against various types of tumours such as sarcoma, lymphoma, carcinoma and leukemia.
All these plants are potential candidates for in vivo studies since they are showing good in vitro anticancer activity.
Keyword: Anticancer Medicinal Plants, Indian origin, Tumours, in vitro and in vivo Methods.
1. Introduction
Ayurveda, a traditional Indian medical practice
using plant drugs has been successful from very
early times in using these natural drugs and
preventing or suppressing various tumours with
different lines of treatment[1]. In India, people of
different ethnic groups inhabiting various
terrains, possess their own distinct culture,
religious rites, food habit and a rich knowledge of
traditional medicine[2]. They practice herbal
medicine to cure a variety of diseases. Natural
products, especially plants have been used in the
treatment of various diseases for thousands of
years. Terrestrial plants have been used as
medicines in Egypt, China, India and Greece
from ancient times and an impressive number of
modern drugs have been developed from them.
The first written records on the medicinal uses of
Vol. 2 No. 2 2013
plants appeared about 2600 BC from the

Sumerians and Akkaidians[3].
Cancer is a group of diseases caused by loss of
cell cycle control. Cancer is associated with
abnormal uncontrolled cell growth[4]. Cancer is
caused by both external factors (tobacco,
chemicals, radiation and infectious organisms)
and internal factors (inherited mutations,
hormones, immune conditions, and mutations that
occur from metabolism). Cancer is a significant
worldwide health problem generally due to the
lack of widespread and comprehensive early
detection methods, the associated poor prognosis
of patients diagnosed in later stages of the disease
and its increasing incidence on a global scale.
Indeed, the struggle to combat cancer is one of
the greatest challenges of mankind [5].
www.phytojournal.com
Page | 140
The National Cancer Institute collected about

35,000 plant samples from 20 countries and has
screened around 114,000 extracts for anticancer
activity[6]. Over 3000 species of plants with
antitumour properties have been reported [7].
Cancer is one of the most prominent diseases in
humans and currently there is considerable
scientific and commercial interest in the
continuing discovery of new anticancer agents
from natural product sources[8].
Chemoprevention is recognized as an important
approach to control malignancy and recent
studies have focused on the search for desirable
chemopreventive agents. Natural products,
particularly dietary substances, have played an
important role in creating new chemopreventive
agents[9]. Interesting patterns of differential
cytotoxicity have been associated with known
classes of compounds, such as cardenolides,
lignans or quassinoids[10]. In any cancer drug
discovery program, a paradigm based on
ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological data
would be more economical and beneficial in
identifying potential anticancer molecules than
mass screening of plant species[11]. Natural
products have been regarded as important sources
of potential chemotherapeutic agents and many
anticancer drugs have originated from natural
sources[12].
According to Cragg and Newman[13] over 50 % of
the drugs in clinical trials for anticancer
properties were isolated from natural sources or
are related to them. Several natural products of
plant origin have potential value as
chemotherapeutic agents. Some of the currently
used anticancer agents derived from plants are
podophyllotoxin,
taxol,
vincristine
and
camptothecin[14]. The areas of cancer and
infectious diseases have a leading position in
utilization of medicinal plants as a source of drug
discovery. Among FDA approved anticancer and
anti-infectious drugs, drugs from natural origin
have a share of 60 % and 75 % respectively[15].
A great number of in vitro and in vivo methods
have been developed to measure the efficiency of
natural anticancer compounds either as pure
compounds or as plant extracts. In vitro methods
like, Tryphan blue dye exclusion assay, LDH
Vol. 2 No. 2 2013
(Lactic dehydrogenase) assay, MTT assay, XTT

assay and Sulforhodamine B assay are most
commonly used for estimating anticancer
properties of natural products from medicinal
plants. Among all in vitro methods MTT and
Sulforhodamine B assay most popular for
estimating anticancer activity.
2. Screening methods of anticancer activity:
2.1 In vitro methods
2.1.1 Tryphan blue dye exclusion assay
The trypan blue dye exclusion assay is the most
commonly utilized test for cell viability. In this
assay, the cells are washed with HBSS (Hank's
Buffered Salt Solution) and centrifuged for 10 15 min at 10,000 rpm. The procedure is repeated
thrice. The cells are suspended in known quantity
of HBSS and the cell count is adjusted to 2 x 106
cells /ml. The cell suspension is distributed into
Eppendorf tubes (0.1 ml containing 2 lakhs cells).
The cells are exposed to drug dilutions and
incubated at 37 C for 3 h. After 3 h, dye
exclusion test, that is, equal quality of the drug
treated cells are mixed with tryphan blue (0.4 %)
and left for 1 min. It is then loaded in a
haemocytometer and viable and non-viable count
are recorded within 2 min. Viable cells do not
take up colour, whereas dead cells take up colour.
However, if kept longer, live cells also generate
and take up colour[16]. The percentage of growth
inhibition is calculated using the following
formula:
(Total cells-Dead cells)
Growth inhibition (%) = 100 - ___________________________ X 100
Total cells
2.1.2 LDH (Lactic dehydrogenase) Assay[17]

Lactic
dehydrogenase
activity
is
spectrophotometrically measured in the culture
medium and in the cellular lysates at 340 nm by
analyzing NADH reduction during the pyruvatelactate transformation. Cells are lysed with 50
mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4 + 20 mM EDTA +
0.5 % Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), further
disrupted by sonication and centrifuged at 13,000
X g for 15 min. The assay mixture (1ml final
volume) for the enzymatic analysis consists of 33
l of sample in 48 mM PBS, pH 7.5 + 1 mM
pyruvate and 0.2 mM NADH. The percentage of
Page | 141
LDH released is calculated as percentage of the

total amount, considered as the sum of the
enzymatic activity present in the cellular lysate
and that in the culture medium.
2.1.3 MTT assay [18]
The MTT assay, based on the conversion of the
yellow tetrazolium salt-MTT, to purple-formazan
crystals by metabolically active cells, provides a
quantitative determination of viable cells. Cells
are plated on to 96 well plates at a cell density of
2105 mL-1 per well in 100 L of RPMI 1640 and
allowed to grow in CO2 incubator for 24 h (37
C, 5 % CO2). The medium is then removed and
replaced by fresh medium containing different
concentrations of sample for 48 h. The cells are
incubated for 24-48 h (37 C, 5 % CO2). Then, 20
L MTT ([3- (4, 5-dimethylthiazol-yl)-2, 5diphenyltetrazolium bromide]) stock solution (5
mg/mL in PBS) is added to each well and
incubated for 5 h. The medium is removed and
200 L DMSO is added to each well to dissolve
the MTT metabolic product. Then the plate is
shaken at 150 rpm for 5 min and the optical
density is measured at 560nm. Untreated cells
(basal) are used as a control of viability (100 %)
and the results are expressed as % viability (log)
relative to the control.
2.1.4 XTT assay [19]
In order to measure the proliferation response, the
(2,3-bis[2-Methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]- 2Htetrazolium-5-carboxyanilide inner salt (XTT)
assay is used. The tetrazolium salt, XTT, is
especially useful in quantifying viable cells. This
assay is designed for the spectrophotometric
quantification of cell growth and viability without
the use of radioactive isotopes and is based on the
cleavage of yellow tetrazolium salt, XTT, to form
an orange formazan dye by metabolically active
cells. XTT cleavages into an orange formazan
dye
by
the
mitochondrial
enzyme,
dehydrogenase, occurs exclusively in living cells.
Cells are grown in growth medium plus 10 %
FBS in 96-well plates until 70-80 % confluence.
They are then treated with the appropriate drug
sample for 24 h. An XTT assay is performed at
the end of incubation. Briefly, 50 mL of XTT
Vol. 2 No. 2 2013
labeling mixture solution is add to each well, and

the cells are incubated at 37 C for 4 h. The
formazan dye formed is soluble in aqueous
solutions and the optical density at 450 nm is
compared with that of control wells with a
screening multiwell spectrophotometer enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader. The
reference wavelength is 650 nm.
2.1.5 Sulforhodamine B assay
Sulforhodamine B assay is a bright pink
aminoxanthene dye that binds to basic amino
acids in mild acidic conditions and dissociates
under basic conditions. Cells are plated in 96-well
flat bottom plates at 5000-10000 cell/well. The
difference in cell numbers plated adjusts for
differences in the growth rates of the various cell
lines. Cells are allowed to adhere to the wells
overnight, then the samples are added to triplicate
wells in serial 3-fold dilutions. Water is added to
the control wells at a 1:10 dilution in medium.
These plates are incubated at 37 C, 5 % CO2 for
3 days, then assayed for growth inhibition using a
sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay[20]. The cells are
fixed by the addition of cold 50 % trichloroacetic
acid to a final concentration of 10 %. After 1 h
incubation at 4 C, the cells are washed five times
with deionized water. The cells are then stained
with 0.4 % SRB (Sigma) dissolved in 1 % acetic
acid for 15-30 min and subsequently washed five
times with 1 % acetic acid to remove unbound
stain. After the plates are air dried at room
temperature, the bound dye is solubilized with 10
mm Tris base and the plates are analysed on a
microplate reader (Molecular Devices) at 595 nm.
2.2 In vivo model

2.2.1 Induction of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma[21]
Antitumor activity of the test compounds is
determined using Ehrlich ascites carcinoma
(EAC) tumor model in mice. The ascitic
carcinoma bearing mice (donor) are used for the
study, 15 days after tumor transplantation. The
animals are divided into groups of 12 animals
each. ((a) Normal mice (b) Tumor-bearing mice,
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(c) Tumor-bearing mice treated with standard

drug, (d) Tumor-bearing mice groups treated with
test drug) The ascitic fluid is drawn using an 18gauge needle with sterile syringe. A small amount
is testing for microbial contamination. Tumor
viability is determine by Tryphan blue exclusion
test and cells are counted using haemocytometer.
The ascitic fluid is suitably diluted in normal
saline to get a concentration of 106 cells/ml of
tumor cell suspension. This is injected
intraperitoneally to obtain ascitic tumor. The
mice are weighed on the day of tumor inoculation
and then once in three days thereafter. Treatment
is started on the tenth day of tumor inoculation.
Standard (one dose) is injected on tenth day
intraperitoneally. The drug is administered from
tenth day for 5 days intraperitoneally. After the

administration of last dose followed by 18 h
fasting, six mice from each group are sacrifice for
the study of antitumor activity and hematological
parameters. The remaining animals in each of the
groups are kept to check the mean survival time
(MST) of the tumor-bearing hosts. Antitumor
effects of drug are assessed by observation of
following parameters.
i. Percentage increase in weight as
compared to day-0 weight
ii. Median survival time and increase in
lifespan [% ILS]
iii. Hematological parameters
Table 1: List of Indian medicinal plants, their family, part used, solvents used for extraction and assay employed
for anticancer studies.
No.
Scientific name
(vernacular name,
family)
Abrus precatorius L.
(Chanothi, Fabaceae)
Allium sativum L.
(Lasan, Liliaceae)
Alstonia scholaris L.
(Saptaparna,
Apocynaceae)
Andrographis paniculata
Burn.f.
(Kariyatu, Acanthaceae)
Annona reticulate L.
(Ramfal, Annonaceae)
Vol. 2 No. 2 2013
Type of the tested

cancer
cells and Method
Traditional and
reported uses
Daltons lymphoma
ascites (DLA) cells,
small cell lung
carcinoma, Yoshida
ascites sarcoma, Yoshida
sarcoma, mouse fibro
sarcoma / In vivo and In
vitro /MTT,SRB test
Eye disease, jaundice,

poisoning, fainting,
arthritis and leucoderma
25,26
Oral cancer cell,

sarcoma 180 cancer cell
/ In vivo
Antioxidant properties,
anti- asthmatic,
anticholesterole- mic,
antiseptic, antithrombotic, cancer,
cholagogue, diaphoretic
and diuretic
38,39
HeLa, hepatocellular
carcinoma,
promyelocytic leukemia
cells, epidermoid
carcinoma cell line and
breast adenocarcinoma
cancer cell lines, Ehrlich
ascites carcinoma / In
vivo and In vitro / Pratt
and Willis test
Antioxidant, diarrhoea,
dysentery and treat
malaria
27,28
Part/s
used
Extract
AP
50 % ET
85 % EAL
Lymphocytic, prostate,
hepatoma, colon cancer
cell lines/ In vitro / MTT
test
95 % ET
ME
Hepatocellular
carcinoma, kidney
Antifertility, antihepatic,
hepatoprotective, antithrombotic,
immunostimulant,
antihepatotoxic,
antiplatelet, aggregation,
antihyper-glycaemic,
antioxidant, antiInflammatory and
antimalarial
Antioxidant,
antidysentric, and
Ref.
No.
69
70,71
Page | 143
carcinoma, colorectal
carcinoma cancer cell
lines / In vitro / MTT
test
6
Asparagus racemosus
Willd.
(Shatavari, Liliaceae)
Azadirachta indica Juss.

(Neem, Meliaceae)
Bacopa monniera
L.(Brahmi,
Scrophulariaceae)
Bauhinia variegate L.
(Kanchhanar,
Caesalpiniaceae)
80 % ET
Prostate cancer / In vivo
WP
9 % ET
Mouse sarcoma Cell

line/ In vitro / Trypan
blue exclusion test
95 % ET
Liver cancer cell,

epithelial larynx
cancer, human breast
cancer / In vivo and In
vitro line/MTT test
10
Berberisvulgaris L.
(Barberry, Berberidaceae)
11
Beta vulgaris L.
(Beet, Chenopodiaceae)
12
Bidens pilosa L.
(Shemaro, Asteraceae)
WP
13
Calycopteris floribunda
Lam.
(Bukshi, Kokaranj
Combretaceae)
14
Catharanthus roseus L.
(Sadabahar, barmachi
Apocynaceae)
15
Cedrus deodara G. Don

(Devdaar, Pinaceae)
RB
ME
95 % ET
R,L
17
Crocus sativus L.
(Kesar, Iridaceae)
dry stigmas
19
Curculigo orchioides
Gaertn.
(Kalimusli,
Amaryllidaceae)
Curcuma longa L.
(Haldi, Zingiberaceae)
Vol. 2 No. 2 2013
Rh
Antioxidant, diarrhea,
gallbladder, liver
dysfunctions,
leishmaniasis, malaria,
stomach problems and
urinary tract diseases
Antioxidant, leukaemia,
cancer such as breast,
oesophagus, glands,
head, intestines and leg
DCM:ME
(1:1)
Colon cancer cell line /

In vitro / MTT test
Colic, antihelminthic,
astringent laxative,
diarrhoea and malaria
Acute lymphocytic
leukemia / In vivo,
Colorectal Carcinoma
cell line / In vitro / MTT
test
Acute lymphoblastic
leukemia,
promyelocytic leukemia,
prostrate and lung cancer
cell lines / In vitro /
Trypan blue exclusion
test
Glucosides
Breast cancer cell line /

In vitro / MTT test
75 % ET
Cervical epithelioid
line / In vitro / MTT test
HE, CH,
AN and
ME
Breast cancer cell line /

In vitro / MTT test
Colon Cancer Cells / In

vitro / Lactate
40,41
57,58
72
Bronchitis,leprosy,
tumors ulcer,
antibacterial, antifungal
and antioxidant
Antioxidant, wounds,
colds, flu and acute or
chronic hepatitis urinary
tract infections
EA
Skin and lung

cancer / In
vivo
Immunomodulatory,
antiinflammatory,
antiulcer, antimalarial,
antifungal, antibacterial,
antiviral, antioxidant,
antimutagenic and
anticarcinogenic
properties
Mental disorders,
tumors, ascites,
antioxidant and
inflammation
ME
Citrullus colocynthis L.
(Indrayan, Cucurbitaceae)
Breast cancer / In vitro /

SRB test
Gastric ulcers, dyspepsia,

inflammation, liver
diseases and antioxidant
Cervix carcinoma,
nasopharyngeal
epidermal carcinoma
cancer cell lines / In
vitro / MTT test
16
18
Liver cancer / In vivo
AQ
antihelminthic
Anti cancer,
menorrhagia
and
antioxidant
Astringent, antioxidant,
antidiarrhoeal febrifuge,
and antiseptic.
Cytotoxic,
hepatoprotective, antiinflammatory,
cardiovascular,
antioxidant and antidiabetic effects
Antioxidant
properties
Antioxidant, diarrhoea,
jaundice, asthma and
poultice for itch and skin
diseases
Antimutagenic,
anticarcinogenic,
45
73
59,60
74,75
89
4244
90,91
76,77
78,79
80,81
92,93
Page | 144
dehydrogenase test
Colon, cervix, oral,

prostate, promyelocytic
and leukemia cancer cell
lines / In vitro and In
vivo / SRB test
20
Cymbopogon flexuosus
(Steud.) Wats.
(Lemon grass, Poaceae)
21
Emblica officinalis
Gaertn.
(Amla, Euphorbiaceae)
22
Ephedra sinica Stapf

(Ephedra, Ephedraceae)
AP
ME
23
Indigofera aspalathoides
(Vahl, Papilionaceae)
95% ET
24
Ipomoea aquatica Forskal.

(Kalmisag,
Convolvulaceae)
ME
ME
25
26
27
DFr
Ipomoea squamosa
(Cairo Morning Glory,
Convolvulaceae)
Jatropha curcas L.
(Ratanjota,
Huphorbiaceae)
Lantana camara L.
(Ghaneri, Verbenaceae)
Liver cancer/ In vivo
ME
F,Fr.,L,R, S
ME
Murine melanoma
cancer / In vivo
Ehrlichs ascites
carcinoma cancer / In
vivo
Larynx epithelial
carcinoma, small lung
carcinoma cancer and
normal African green
monkey kidney cell line
/ In vitro / MTT and
SRB test
Ovarian cancer cell line /
In vitro
Skin cancer / In vivo
Lung
carcinoma
cell line / In
vitro / MTT
and SRB test
Antioxidant
properties
63
45,46
82
94
Skin diseases,
antioxidant, ulcers,
tumours
67,68
Lung cancer / In vivo
47
Lung cancer and glioma

cancer cell line / In vitro
/ standard Cell Counting
Kit (CCK)-8 test
Antiparasitic activity,
anthelmintic activity
29
30
Morinda citrifolia L.
(Noni, Rubiaceae)
R, Fr.
AQ
Colon cancer cell line /

In vitro / MTT test
31
Moringa oleifera L.
(Saragavo, Moringacae)
ME, ET, EA and CH
Skin cancer/ In vivo and

In vitro/ Natural red dye
test
32
Nigella sativa L.
(Black seeds,
Ranunculaceae)
90 % ET
Colon Cancer / In vivo
33
Ocimum gratissimum L.
(Damro, Lamiaceae)
S, L
AQ
Breast cancer / In vivo

and In vitro / MTT test
Vol. 2 No. 2 2013
Antioxidant, various skin

disorders and cancer
61,62
Antitumour, antioxidant,
antiviral, antibacterial,
analgesic, antiinflammatory,
antidiarrhoeal,
antiamoebic,
spasmolytic,
immunostimulant and
immunomodulatory
properties
Melia azedarach L.
(White Cedar, Meliaceae)
70 % ET
Liver protecting activity,

antimutagenic,
antioxidant and
anticarcinogenic
properties
Colds, fever, flu,
headaches, asthma,
wheezing, and nasal
congestion
29
83
Mangifera indica L.
(Keri, Anacardiaceae)
Stress-related disorders,
antifungal and
antimicrobial properties
Antitumoral,antioxidant,
antibacterial and
antihypertensive
28
Fr, B,L
antigenotoxic, antiinflammatory and

antioxidant
properties
Antidiabetic, antiviral,
antibacterial, anticancer
and antioxidant
Antioxidant,
antimicrobial,
antigenotoxic and antiinflammatory activities
Antioxidant, antidiabetic,
antihistaminic,
antiepileptogenic,
antiinfective, antitumour
and antiperoxidative
Chemopreventive,
anticarcinogenic,
radioprotective and
numerous others
pharmacological uses
95,96
97,98
36,37
48,49
30
Page | 145
34
Ocimum sanctum L.
(Tulsi, Lamiaceae)
35
Phellinus rimosus
(Berk, (Hymenochetaceae)
36
Pinus resinosa Aiton

(Pinaceae)
37
38
sporocarps
Polyalthia longifolia
Benth. & Hook. f.
(Annonaceae)
Psidium guajava L.
(Jamphal, Myrtaceae)
Skin cancer / In vivo
ET
ME, AQE
HE, DCM, ME and

AQ
ET
AQ
Daltons lymphoma
ascites, Ehrlichs ascites
carcinoma / In vivo and
In vitro / Trypan blue
exclusion test
Colorectal
adenocarcinoma cell,
lung carcinoma cell and
normal skin
Fibroblast cell lines / In
vitro / Resazurin
reduction test
Colon cell and leukemia
HL-60 cancer cell line /
In vitro / SRB test
Prostate carcinoma cell/
In vitro / MTT test
Prostate carcinoma cell /
In vivo and In vitro /
MTT test
39
Punica granatum L.
(Dadam, Lythraceae)
J,P
70 % AC
40
Tragia involucrata Linn.

(Euphorbiaceae)
AP
HE, EA
Ehrlichs ascites
carcinoma/ in vivo
41
Rubia cordifolia L.
(Manjistha, Rubiaceae)
80 % ME
Coloncarcinoma, breast
carcinoma and liver
carcinoma / In vitro /
MTT test
42
Semecarpus anacardium
L.
(Bhallika, Anacardiaceae)
43
Tephrosia purpurea Pers.

(Sarapunkha, Fabaceae)
44
Terminalia chebula Retz.

(Karakkaya,
Combretaceae)
45
Tiliacora racemosa
Coleb.
(Tiliacoru,
Menispermaceae)
46
Tinospora cordifolia
(Willd.) Hook. f. & Thom.
(Guduchi,
Menispermaceae)
47
Viscum album
L.
(Vando,
Vol. 2 No. 2 2013
DFr
90 % ET and ME
95 % ET
Acute myeloblastic
leukaemia, chronic
myelogenic leukaemia,
breast adenocarcinoma,
cervical epithelial
carcinoma and colon
lines / In vitro / MTT
test
Oral
squamous
cell
carcinoma /
In vivo
ET
COLO-205 cell line / In

vitro / MTT test
90 % ET
Acute myeloblastic
leukaemia, chronic
myelogenic leukaemia ,
breast adenocarcinoma
and cervical epithelial
cancer cell lines / In
vitro / MTT test
PE, CH and DCM
CO2 gas
Ehrlichs ascites
carcinoma / In vivo
Ehrlichs tumour cell /

In vivo
Anti-stress, antioxidant,
hepatoprotective, antiinflammatory,
antibacterial
and radioprotective
properties
64
Antioxidant
31,32
Antioxidant, analgesic,
antifungal and
antibacterial
84,85
Antibacterial and
antifungal
activities
99
Antioxidant
100
Antioxidant and antiinflammatory
33
Antimicrobial,
antiinflammatory,
antifertility activity
Antitumor, antioxidant,
anti inflammatory,
urinary disorders,
antistress, anti microbial,
hepatoprotective, radio
protective
101
86,87
Antioxidant,
immunomodu-latory,
antiinflammatory,
analgesic, antipyretic
and ulcerogenic activities
88,11
Various inflammatory,
liver, spleen and kidney
disorders and antioxidant
50
Digestive, diabetes, colic

pain, chronic cough, sore
throat, asthma, antioxidant, antiinflammatory
102
General tonic,
antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antiarthritic, antiallergic,
anti-malarial, antidiabetic and aphrodisiac
properties
Nervine, hypotensive,
cardiac depressant,
antioxidant, vasodilator,
88
51,52
66
Page | 146
Viscaceae)
48
Withania
somnifera L.
(Ashwagandha,
Solanaceae)
70 % EAL
Forestomach
and skin
carcinoma
cancer / In
vivo
49
Woodfordia fruticosa
Salisb.
(Dhavdi, Lythraceae)
70 % AC
Sarcoma 180 cancer / In

vivo
50
Zingiber officinale Rosc.

(Adu, Zingiberaceae)
Rh
50 % ET
Prostate cancer cellline /

In vitro and In vivo /
MTT test
relaxant, diuretic and

stimulant
Antitumor,
radiosensitizer,
antioxidant, antistressor,
immunomodulatory,
anti-inflammatory and
anti-bacterial
Antipyretic, antioxidant,
Anti- inflammatory,
hepato-protective,
antibacterial activity
Carminative, antioxidant,
diaphoretic,
antispasmodic,
expectorant, peripheral
circulatory stimulant,
astringent, appetite
stimulant, antiinflammatory agent,
diuretic and digestive
53,54
55,56
34,35
S: Stem, P: Peel, AP: Aerial parts, L: leaves, R: root, WP: whole plant, RB: rootbark, J: juice, W: wood, Rh: rhizomes, G: grass, DFr: dry
fruits, F: flower, B: bark
ET: Ethanol, EAL: Ethyl alcohol, ME: Methanol, AQ: Aqueous, DCM: dichloromethane, EA: Ethyl acetate, HE: Hexane, CH:
Chloroform, AN: Acetonitrile, AC: Acetone.
2.2.2 Anticancer Medicinal Plants of India

Anticancer properties of many natural
compounds isolated from different Indian plant
extracts have been reported. Research is being
carried out throughout the world to find a lead
compound which can block the development of
cancer in humans. Nature has always been a great
contributor towards this goal. Plant-derived
natural products such as flavonoids, terpenoids
and steroids have received considerable attention
due to their diverse pharmacological properties,
which include cytotoxic and chemopreventive
effects[22]. The isolation of the vinca alkaloids,
vinblastine and vincristine from the Madagascar
periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus introduced a
new era in the use of plant material as anticancer
agents. They were the first agents to advance into
clinical use for the treatment of cancer[23].
The medicinal plants contain many antioxidants
such as vitamins (A, C, E, K), carotenoids,
flavonoids (flavones, isoflavones, flavonones,
anthocyanins,
catenchins,
isocatechins),
polyphenols (ellagic acid, gallic acid, tannins),
saponins, enzymes and minerals (selenium,
copper, manganese, zinc, chromium, iodine,
etc)[24].
In this review, 50 anticancer medicinal plants of
Indian origin belonging to 35 families are
reported along with detailed information
Vol. 2 No. 2 2013
regarding part used, extract used, type of the

model used, types of tested cancer cell lines, etc.
(Table-1). These plants continue to be used
against various types of tumours such as sarcoma,
lymphoma, carcinoma and leukemia. Many of
these medicinal plants have been found to be very
effective in experimental as well as clinical cases
of tumours/cancers.
Some medicinal plants have been studied in
various in vivo and in vitro experimental models
of cancer and have shown significant inhibition
of cancer cell proliferation. For eg. Abrus
precatorius in Yoshidas sarcoma, carcinoma
and Daltons lymphoma ascites cancer[25,26];
Alstonia scholaris
in Ehrlich ascites
carcinoma[27,28]; Cymbopogon flexuosus in
Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, leukemia and sarcoma
180[29]; Ocimum gratissimum in breast cancer[30];
Phellinus
rimosus
in
lymphoma
and
carcinoma[31,32]; Punica granatum in prostate
cancer[33]; Zingiber officinale in carcinoma[34, 35];
Moringa oleifera in skin cancer and Human
multiple myeloma cancer[36,37]; Allium sativum in
sarcoma 180[38,39]; Asparagus racemosus in liver
cancer[40,41]; Catharanthus roseus in P-1534
leukemia[42-44]; Indigofera aspalathoides in
Ehrlichs ascites carcinoma[45,46]; Mangifera
indica in lung cancer[47]; Nigella sativaI in colon
cancer[48,49]; Tephrosia purpurea in oral
Page | 147
carcinoma[50]; Tinospora cordifolia in Ehrlichs

ascites carcinoma[51,52]; Withania somnifera in
skin carcinoma[53,54]; Woodfordia fruticosa in
sarcoma 180[55,56]; Azadirachta indica in prostate
cancer[57,58]; Beta vulgaris in skin and lung
cancer[59,60]; Emblica officinalis in liver
cancer[61,62]; Ephedra sinica in Murine
melanoma[63]; Ocimum sanctum in skin cancer[64];
Viscum album in Ehrlichs carcinoma[65,66];
Jatropha curcas
in skin cancer[67,68];
Andrographis paniculata in lymphoma and
carcinoma[69]; Annona reticulate in kidney and
colorectal carcinoma cancer[70,71]; Bacopa
monniera in sarcoma[72]; Berberis vulgaris in
breast cancer[73]; Bidens pilosa in cervix
cancer[74,75]; Citrullus colocynthis
in breast
cancer[76,77]; Crocus sativus
in cervical
epithelioid carcinoma cancer[78,79]; Curculigo
orchioides in breast cancer[80,81]; Ipomoea
aquatica in larynx epithelial carcinoma and small
lung carcinoma cancer[82]; Lantana camara in
lung carcinoma[83]; Pinus resinosa in Colorectal
adenocarcinoma cell, lung carcinoma cell and
normal skin Fibroblast[84,85]; Rubia cordifolia in
carcinoma[86,87]; Tiliacora racemosa
in
leukaemia and carcinoma[88]; Calycopteris
floribunda in colon cancer[89]; Cedrus deodara in
acute lymphoblastic leukemia, prostate and lung
cancer[90,91]; Curcuma longa in colon cancer[92,93];
Ipomoea squamosa in ovarian cancer[94]; Melia
azedarach in lung cancer and glioma cancer[95,96];
Morinda citrifolia in colon cancer[97,98];
Polyalthia longifolia in colon and leukemia HL60 cancer[99]; Psidium gujava in prostate
carcinoma cancer[100]; Tragia involucrata in
carcinoma cancer[101]; Semecarpus anacardium
acute
myeloblastic
leukaemia,
chronic
myelogenic leukaemia, breast adenocarcinoma,
cervical epithelial carcinoma and colon
carcinoma cancer[88,11]; Terminalia chebula in
colon cancer[102].
This review provides information on a number of
plants which show promising anticancer activity.
It lists various methods for evaluating anticancer
activity so it will be easy for the experimenter. It
emphasizes that in vitro anticancer assays have
been carried out for most of the plants, but in vivo
remains to be done in majority of them.
Vol. 2 No. 2 2013
3. Conclusion
In this review, some anticancer medicinal plants
of Indian origin have been presented. These
medicinal plants possess good antioxidant
properties, leading to anticancer activities. The
aim of this study was to give an overview on the
progress of anticancer medicinal plant research
around the continental India, focusing on the
most important findings of scientists in this field.
We have tried to explore the discovered plants
components with proved anticancer activity both
in vitro and in vivo. India is one of the most
promising regions for discovering novel
biologically-active substances from its flora.
More efforts are needed to explore potent
anticancer plants from the mother earth and save
humans around the world from cancer.
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ISSN 2278- 4136

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Microbiological Laboratory,

Vol. 2 No. 2 2013

plants appeared about 2600 BC from the

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

The National Cancer Institute collected about

(Lactic dehydrogenase) assay, MTT assay, XTT

2.1.2 LDH (Lactic dehydrogenase) Assay[17]

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

LDH released is calculated as percentage of the

labeling mixture solution is add to each well, and

2.2 In vivo model

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

(c) Tumor-bearing mice treated with standard

tenth day for 5 days intraperitoneally. After the

Vol. 2 No. 2 2013

Type of the tested

Eye disease, jaundice,

Oral cancer cell,

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Azadirachta indica Juss.

Prostate cancer / In vivo

Mouse sarcoma Cell

Liver cancer cell,

Cedrus deodara G. Don

Vol. 2 No. 2 2013

Colon cancer cell line /

Breast cancer cell line /

Breast cancer cell line /

Colon Cancer Cells / In

Skin and lung

Breast cancer / In vitro /

Gastric ulcers, dyspepsia,

Liver cancer / In vivo

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Colon, cervix, oral,

Ephedra sinica Stapf

Ipomoea aquatica Forskal.

Liver cancer/ In vivo

Lung cancer / In vivo

Lung cancer and glioma

Colon cancer cell line /

ME, ET, EA and CH

Skin cancer/ In vivo and

Colon Cancer / In vivo

Breast cancer / In vivo

Vol. 2 No. 2 2013

Antioxidant, various skin

Liver protecting activity,

antigenotoxic, antiinflammatory and

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Pinus resinosa Aiton

Skin cancer / In vivo

HE, DCM, ME and

Tragia involucrata Linn.

Tephrosia purpurea Pers.

Terminalia chebula Retz.

Vol. 2 No. 2 2013

COLO-205 cell line / In

PE, CH and DCM

Ehrlichs tumour cell /

Antioxidant and antiinflammatory